Rack assembly for refrigerators, ovens, and the like



msasw RACK ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATORS, OVENS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. .15, 1945 D: H. BITNEY April 5, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEIQVTOR. flex/6y 5/2 7767 Y April 5, 1949.

D. H. BITNEY RACK ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATORS, OVENS AND THE LIKE 2 Shegts-$heet2 Filed Dec. 15, 1945 INVENTOR. fled 6y /7. 5/7/76? v liltiw l u l hw Uzi Patented Apr. 5, 19 49 RACK ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATORS,

. OVENS, AND THE LIKE Dewey H. Bitney, Albion, Mich., assignor to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich.

Application December 15, 1945, Serial No; 635,285

This invention relates to improvements in a rack assembly for refrigerators, ovens and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a rack assembly for refrigerators, ovens, and the like, which is effectively supported in extended position or when withdrawn from the compartment in which it is mounted to expose the major portion of the surface thereof, and at the same time one which may be easily removed or disengaged from its supports.

Second, to provide a rack structure which is comparatively simple and economical in structure and easily manipulated.

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a structure embodying my invention partially in section on line corresponding to line l--l of Fig. 3, one of the racks being shown in extended position.

Fig; 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating structural details of the rack supporting rails in relation to a compartment.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in' horizontal section on line =4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed section on line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of rack embodying my invention.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view showing the rack in proper relation to supporting rails when in its extended position. h

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in section on line corresponding to line 88 of Fig. 7.

In the accompanying drawings the cabinet or compartment I is shown mainly in conventional form, this being the lining of an oven or a refrigerator.

I have illustrated only one of the rail units and one side of the rack, as it will be understood that the other rail unit is a duplicate of that illustrated, and that the rack is symmetrical on both sides. The rack assembly is designed to be removably mounted within the compartment although it will. be understood that instead of providing rail assembly units separablefrom the walls of the compartment the rails may be mounted directly upon the compartment walls.

10 Claims. (o1. 211- 143) In the embodiment illustrated I provide. front and rear hanger members 2 and 3 having keyhole slots 4 at their ends, dischargeably engageable with the headed studs 5 projecting inwardly lrfI'OIII the side walls 6 of thecompartment which,

as stated, may be oven walls or refrigerator walls 1 or the like as may be desired. The rails 1 formed of heavy Wire or light rod stock, have laterally turned ends 8 welded or otherwise secured to the hanger 2, see Fig. 5.

The inturned ends 8 at the front of the rails constitute bearing members for the shelf designated generally by the numeral 9.

The shelves or racks 9 comprise side members or bars l0 and a rear member or bar I l and frontmembers at the front ends of the rails, while the cross bars l4 and I5 slidably engage the tops of the rails on which the shelf is supported. The rear ends of the side bars are bent upwardly at 4 I! to support the cross bar I I in an elevated position relative to the plane of the shelf or rack and so that it slidably engages the under side of the rail above and adjacent to the rail upon which the shelf or rack is supported. The rails have downward offsets l8 adjacent their front ends,

these offsets constituting stops coacting with the rear cross bar to limit the outward movement of the racks as they are withdrawn to extended position as illustrated in the lower rack shown in Fig. 1.

The cross bar engaging the under sides of the adjacent upper rail prevents downward tilting of the shelf when it is withdrawn. However, when it is desired to completely remove the shelf or rack, its front end may be tilted upwardly to permit passing of the rear cross bar under the stops.

It will be readily understood that the shelves or racks may be selectively associated with any bars or rails.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the stop offsets 18 are omitted from the rails 1. The offsets l3 of the rack side bar l0 perform thefunction of laterally supporting the rack as the side bars slide upon the bearing portions 8 of the rails but theyalso serve as stops coacting with the bearing memhers 8 which also function as stops. The rear ends of the side bars are upwardly onset at 11 and connected by cross bar I l which rides along under the rails above the rails on which the rack is slidably supported, preventing the rack from tilting downwardly when it is in its extended position or as it is drawn out on the rails.

The rack may be entirely withdrawn by tilting its front end upwardly until the offsets l3will pass the members" 8; and thisis also necessary in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, where the offsets [8 in the rails coact with the upwardly onset rear end of the rack to provide stopmeans.- In other words, in the embodiment shown i'n. Fig. 1 there are two stop means, this being,- desir able because the offsets [3 are located ,so closely adjacent to the rear end oiltherack.

I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment which is highly satisfactory; I have not attempted to illustrate or describe various modificationsand. adaptations, as. it is believed that this disclosure; will enable those skilled in the artto embody-or adapt-my invention; as maybe desired;

Having thus described my, invention, what-.1" claim as. new anddesire tosecure by Letters Eatentis:

I. Arack assembly comprising pairs of front. and rear hangers, pairs of horizontally disposed; vertically spaced parallel rails having laterally turned ends secured to said hangers, thelaterally turned front ends of the rails constituting rack: bearing members, said rails having. vertically aligned downwardly projecting portions therein adjacent their front ends constituting stops, a. rack. comprising, connected side bars, and: front, reanvand intermediate cross bars, the sidebars having; downwardly projecting, portions adjacent their rear ends engaging the outer-sides of the" rails on which the rack is slidably supported, the sidebars being in slidable: engagement withither saidbearing members of the rails, theintermediate bars being insliding engagement withthe said rails, the rear ends of the side bars being upwardly offset from the plane of therack and: supporting the rear cross bar in an elevatedtrelation'to the plane of the rack to coact with. said; stops, and in slidable relation to-the'rails: above therai-ls-on which the rack is supported, whereby the -rack is supported in an extended horizontal: position but may be disengaged from the-rails bytilting the front endof therackupwardly'to pass the rear cross bar under the coacting rails stops;

2; A rack. assembly comprising pairs 0t yer-=- ticall-yspaeed parallel rails having'bearingmembersrat their front ends, means for supporting: saidrails in. said vertically spaced relatiomssaid rails having vertically aligned downwardly pro j ecting portions therein adj acent. their frontrends constituting steps, a rack comprising, connected side-bars and front, .rear, and intermediatecrossbars, vthe side bars having-downwardly projecting: portions adjacent'their rear ends engagingthe outer sides of the rails on which therack is slida bly supported, the side bars being being in slidae ble engagement with the'saidbearing members of the: rails, the. intermediate-bars being inlslid ing engagement with the said rails, the rear ends. ofthe'side. bars beingv upwardly ofiset from the plane of the rackand supporting: theirearcross bar inan. elevatedrelation totheplaneof the rackto coactwith said stops and'in slidable re1ation tov the rails above the rails on whichthe ra'cle an extended horizontal position, but may be disengaged from the rails by tilting the front end of the rack upwardly to pass the rear cross bar under the coacting rail stops.

3. The combination of pairs of vertically spaced parallel rails having vertically aligned downwardly projecting portions adjacent the front ends constituting stops, means for supporting said rails in said vertically spaced relation, a rack having side bars and means extending transversely of the parallel rails and slidable thereon and connected to the side bars, said side bars haying; downwardly projecting portions adjacent the. rear ends engaging the outer sides of the rails on which the rack is slidably supported and a rear: crossbar upwardly offset above the plane of the rack constituting a stop coasting with the stops'of" the rails above the rails on which thoracic-is slidably supported and in slidable relation to such rails whereby the rack may be supported: inextended-r'horizontal position but may be disengaged from the rails by tilting the front end of the rack upwardly to pass the rear cross bar thereof under the enacting, rail-stops.

4. The-combination of pairs of vertically spaced parallel:railshaving;vertically aligned stops adjacenttheir frontends, means for'supporting said railsin said vertically spaced parallel relation, a rack having-side barsandmeans extendingtrans- 3 versely of said parallel rails and slidable thereon and connected to said sidebars, said rack having anrupwardly oflset rear cross bar constitutinga stopboacting with the-stops of the rails above the rails on which the rack :is slidably supported? and in. slidable relation to such rails whereby the-rack may be supported in extended horizontal position but maybe. disengaged from the rails by tilting the front end of the rack upwardlyxto -passthe. rear cross bar thereof under it the ooactingrail stops.

5. The combination of a pluralityof pairs of vertically spaced parallel rails, means for supporting'saidmails in said vertically spaced relation; the: upper railsi having, downwardly pro- 45; jecting stops adjacent their front ends, a rack having side bars and means extending transversely'of. said'paral-lel rails and slidable thereon and connectedto said side bars, said-rack having upwardly projecting; combinedv stop and support 501 means a-t itsrear. end. in slidable. relation-to the rails above" the rails on which the rack is supported whereby the rack is supported in extended-horizontal position :butmay be disengaged from the rails:bytilting. the irontend-of the rack 55' toldisengagethestops ofthe. raclrlfrom. the stops of the rails,-the. rack being;selectively'engageable with a-pain of horizontally spacedirail's 6. The.combinationw of pairstof. vertically spaced parallel rails, means for supportingsaid'rails. in

said vertically spaced relation, the. upper rails having downwardly projecting stops adjacent. their front ends, a rack having. side. bars and means extending transverselyof 'said'parallelrails and slidable thereonand connected to said side bars, said rack having upwardly projecting combined stop and support means .at its rear end in slidablerelation to the. rails above. the rails on the rack from. the stopsof the rails.

7-. Thecombination=ofpairsof horizontally-disposedivertically spaced parallel railshaving lat.-

issnpp rted. wherebyv the metric supportedpiit '55. erallyiurnedforward'endsconstitutingraclibearing members, means for supporting said rails in said vertically spaced relation, and a rack comprising connected side bars and cross members, the side bars being in slidable engagement with said bearing members of said rails and having downwardly projecting portions adjacent their rear ends engaging the outer sides of the rails on which the rack is slidably supported and constituting stops coacting with said bearing members of said side rails, the rear ends of the side bars being upwardly offset from the plane of the rack and provided with a cross bar in sliding engagement with the rails above the rails on which the rack is supported whereby the rack is supported in an extended horizontal position but may be disengaged from the rails by tilting the front end of the rack upwardly to pass the downwardly projecting portions of the side bars over the bearing members.

8. The combination of pairs of horizontally disposed vertically spaced parallel rails having rack bearing members at their forward ends, means for supporting said rails in said vertically spaced relation, and a rack comprising side bars and means for connecting the same, said side bars being in slidable engagement with said bearing members of said rails and having downwardly projecting portions adjacent their rear ends engaging the outer sides of the rails on which the rack is slidably supported and constituting stops coacting with said bearing members of said side rails, the rear end of the rack being upwardly offset in relation to the plane of the rack and in sliding engagement with the rails above the rails on which the rack is supported whereby the rack is supported in an extended horizontal position but may be disengaged from the rails by tilting the front end of the rack upwardly to pass the downwardly projecting portions of the side bars over the bearing members.

9. The combination of pairs of horizontally disposed vertically spaced rails having stop elements at their forward ends, means supporting said rails in said vertically spaced relation, a rack comprising side bars and means for connecting the same, said side bars being slidable on certain pairs of said rails having a pair of rails above them, said rack having stops on the side bars coacting with said stop elements on said rails when the racks are extended, the rear ends of the side bars being upwardly offset in relation to the plane of the rack and provided with a cross bar in sliding engagement with the rails above the rails on which the rack is supported whereby the rack is supported in an extended horizontal position but may be disengaged from the rails by tilting the front end of the rack upwardly to pass the side bar stops over the stop elements of the rails.

10. The combination of pairs of horizontally disposed vertically spaced rails having stop elemeans at their forward ends, means for supporting said rails in said vertically spaced relation, a rack comprising side bars and means for connecting the same, said side bars being slidable on certain pairs of said rails having a pair of rails above them, said rack having stops on the side bars coacting with said stop elements on said rails when the racks are extended, the rear end of the rack having means upwardly offset in relation to the plane of the rack and in sliding engagement with the rails above the rails on which the rack is supported whereby the rack is supported in an extended horizontal position but may be disengaged from the rails by tilting the front end of the rack upwardly to pass the side bar stops over the stop elements of the rails.

DEWEY I-I. BITNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,191,198 Kuhn et a1 July 18, 1916 1,600,699 Parke Sept. 21, 1926 1,896,307 Hatch Feb. 7, 1933 1,974,983 Cook Sept. 25, 1934 1,989,275 Hatch Jan. 29, 1935 2,089,359 Goulooze Aug. 10, 1937 2,101,582 Hoff Dec. 7, 1937 2,168,172 Rees Aug. 1, 1939 2,225,991 Hobson Dec. 24, 1940 

